Tag Archives: Jesus’ disciples

When God Hears the Voice of the Youth

Posted on April 27, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Children have always gotten a bad rap over the years. Whether it’s parents who look down to these future leaders today or Jesus’ disciples who paid more attention to adults in the New Testament, God hears the voice of the youth. Mark 10:13-16 highlights the type of person Jesus is, welcoming little children with open arms. Rather than someone who doesn’t want to be bothered, Jesus wanted to hear what these kids had to say.

When the water in the bottle was all gone, Hagar caused the youth to lie down under one of the shrubs.16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about a bowshot, for she said, Let me not see the death of the lad. And as she sat down opposite him, [d]he lifted up his voice and wept and she raised her voice and wept, Genesis 21:15-16.

The inspiration behind this blog came from the featured passage above. Hagar was no longer welcome in Abraham’s house after Ishmael began taunting Isaac. As the heat of the desert took their toll on Hagar and Ishmael, his mom began to give up hope on life. At this moment of desperation, God steps in to rescue this single mom. Upon hearing the cries of Hagar’s weeping, Ishmael’s life is saved.

And God heard the voice of the youth, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the youth where he is. 18 Arise, raise up the youth and support him with your hand, for I intend to make him a great nation, Genesis 21:17-18.

Hagar’s cry for help is like God’s promise in Psalm 34:18 to heal the broken hearted and saved those crushed and depressed. Matthew 18:1-6 illustrates how special children are to God. Jesus warns any adult who sets a bad example or causes a child to sin. The fate of this motley crew isn’t pretty. The point of today’s blog is to remind readers that young people are precious in God’s eyes, hearing their voices when they cry out, praying for help.

by Jay Mankus

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The Vow of Corban

Posted on March 24, 2018 by expressyourself4him

Reading the Bible can be eye opening, especially when you stumble upon formerly private conversations revealed by Jesus’ disciples.  Every once in a while, I come across a passage that befuddles me, having to rely on commentaries to figure out what I just read.  In my two years of seminary, there is a term that I never learned or came across.  The word Corban means offering to God a sacrifice in order to fulfill a vow.  The passage below provides an example of the vow of Corban in the Bible.

If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth, Numbers 30:2.

One day Pharisees and religious leaders began to observe Jesus, looking for something to correct, point out or scrutinize.  These teachers of the law noticed that some of Jesus’ disciples weren’t following ceremonial laws prior to eating.  While under attack, Jesus brings up the concept of the vow of Corban.  Jesus then ties this vow to a commandment, honoring your father and mother.  Sometimes earthly vows contradict the wishes of your parents, the point Jesus makes in the passage below.

But you [Pharisees and scribes] say, ‘If a man tells his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you is Corban, (that is to say, already a gift to God),”’ 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother [since helping them would violate his vow of Corban]; 13 so you nullify the [authority of the] word of God [acting as if it did not apply] because of your tradition which you have handed down [through the elders]. And you do many things such as that,” Mark 7:11-13.

Perhaps, Jesus was eluding to Jephthah’s tragic vow made in Numbers 11:29-40.  Following a victorious battle, the 9th Judge of Israel was in a great mood.  Returning home from a great distance, Jephthah became hungry while traveling through a forest.  This appetite led to a foolish oath, vowing to sacrifice the first creature that greets him.  Unfortunately, hours passed without seeing anything before his own daughter ran out to hug him.  Jephthah kept his word, sacrificing his daughter, dying as a virgin.  To avoid anyone following in the footsteps of Jephthah, its better to honor your parents rather than focus on making Corban vows.

by Jay Mankus

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Life Is Not A Video Game

Posted on May 6, 2017 by expressyourself4him

Last Wednesday Delaware made the national news for the wrong reason.  About a mile from where I taught high school for ten years, a police officer was shot and killed in a Wawa parking lot.  Like a casualty in Call of Duty, Halo or Gears of War, Corporal Steven Ballard’s life was taken in cold blood.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes, James 4:14.

While I am not blaming video games on his death, violent content causes desensitization.  When individuals play hours upon hours of these mature games, the human mind can lose touch with reality.  You can’t hit a reset button when someone you love passes away.  Rather, life is precious, fragile as you only have one life to live.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly, John 10:10.

According to one of Jesus’ disciples, Satan is like a thief trying to ruin your life.  This occurs through demonic forces attempting to steal your joy, kill dreams and destroy families.  Bad decisions and poor choices lead some to become an accomplice to evil.  May the tragedy of this officer’s life serve as a warning to those wandering into murky waters.  Think, reflect and pray as life is not a video game.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

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Buffer Zone

Posted on November 12, 2015 by expressyourself4him

Whether you’re at home, school or work, you are bound to experience a clash in personalities.  If this turbulence happens regularly, you may be in need of a buffer.  Whether this is a cushion, defense or shield, buffer zones lessen the impact of two stubborn people.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple, Acts 9:26.

However, sometimes a buffer can be a moderator, serving as a voice of reason.  As the Holy Spirit transformed Saul, who became Paul, the disciples were skeptical, thinking this was merely a ploy to infiltrate the first century church.  None of Jesus’ disciples were going to give Paul a second chance until Barnabas intervened.

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus, Acts 9:27.

If it wasn’t for Barnabas’ relentless efforts, one of the greatest apostles all time never would have been discovered.  The buffer zone Barnabas provided insulated Paul from the doubts of Jesus’ disciples.  Despite their differences, Paul proved himself to be a worthy servant of Christ.  In view of this story, don’t let negative feelings prevent you from giving someone a fresh start.  And when necessary, create a buffer zone to guard and protect others from ruining someone’s reputation.

by Jay Mankus

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Escaping the Demons of Your Past

Posted on March 31, 2015 by expressyourself4him

And Jesus said to them, “This kind of demon cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” – Mark 9:29

Have you ever asked someone a question who in their response tried to answer like they were an expert but in the back of your mind you realized this individual doesn’t have a clue?  Well, Jesus’ disciples, particularly Simon Peter gave off this vibe.  However, one day during an unusual encounter, Peter met his match, unable to help a desperate soul escape the demons of his past.

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”- Matthew 12:43-45

In the passage above, its hard to distinguish if Jesus is referring to an actual event or merely using a parable to prove a point.  Nonetheless, this image does apply to anyone who has ever battled some sort of addiction.  Numerous times people say they want to stop their bad habit, yet a mysterious force places each on the verge of temptation day after day.  Thus, whenever you break free of these grips and began to clean up your temple, the human body, demons won’t give up without a fight.  Therefore, its essential to have a game plan to counter demonic oppression.

Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. – Psalm 143:7-8

While King David faced his own demons, three answers were revealed after the prayer above.  First, David realized the more time he spent reading the Bible, God’s unfailing love would replace the guilt down deep in his heart.  Second, David recognized he couldn’t achieve victory over the demons of his past without initially trusting in the Lord’s power.  Finally, listening to the Holy Spirit for direction and guidance could begin to turn his life around.  If this blog finds you losing to your past, may the words of the Bible lift you up, give you hope and help you escape the demons of your past.

by Jay Mankus

 

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